Research, innovation, drive towards decarbonisation. These are the development paths of the Panaria group financed by the European Investment Bank, which, supported by a guarantee from the European Fund for Strategic Investments, makes 50 million euros available.
Investments that the world leader in the production and distribution of ceramic surfaces for floors and walls (1,700 employees) will make mainly in the three Italian plants in Emilia Romagna and, in part, in two sites located in Portugal, in the Aveiro district.
Thanks to the funds of the Bank of the European Union, guaranteed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments, Panariagroup will acquire new technologies and cutting-edge machinery, including new systems and machinery for pressing, finishing and digital printing of ceramics, as well as automatic systems of handling of materials and ovens of new conception with high energy saving, already predisposed for hydrogen feeding.
Investments are also planned in research and development on innovative products and processes that will make it possible to improve production efficiency and, in parallel, to reduce energy consumption by lowering production costs.
Innovative technologies that will make it possible to use renewable energy sources (such as biofuels or green hydrogen in kilns for firing ceramics), as an alternative to methane gas. The estimate is that these loans will contribute to acquiring more efficient machinery which will guarantee, upon completion of the project, an emissions reduction of the order of 15% compared to current machinery, with further reductions possible due to the use of renewable fuels when they become more accessible on the market.